Students have lots of questions regarding the Swiss Government Scholarship Program. It is the scholarship program offered by the government of Switzerland to international students who want to study in Switzerland. Here are the answers to your questions regarding this scholarship program.

Frequently Asked Questions:

(Q) Is it easy to apply for this scholarship program?

(A) Yes, but it’s quite a lengthy process.

(Q) Is it easy to be selected for this scholarship program?

(A) Yes, if eligible.

(Q) What is the aim of this scholarship program?

(A) The main objective is:

  • To enable the intellectual international students to complete and conduct their research in Swiss universities with international standards.
  • To promote research cooperation and international exchange.
  • To strengthen the relationship between Switzerland and other participating countries.

(Q) Which is the host country for the Swiss Government Scholarship Program?

(A) Switzerland.

(Q) How to apply for the Swiss Government Scholarship Program? Or procedure to apply for this scholarship program?

(A) Application package can be obtained by e-mail from the Embassy of Switzerland in your country.

(Q) Is it necessary to submit a hard copy of your application?

(A) Yes

(Q) What is the duration of this scholarship program?

(A) Three years for a Ph.D. program while one year for Post-doctoral studies.

(Q) How many students get scholarships per year?

(A) Many numbers of awards are offered.

(Q) Is it a fully funded scholarship program?

(A) This scholarship is offering many grants for the applicants, which are given as follows:

  • The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of 1’920 Swiss Francs for a Ph.D. Degree.
  • The scholarship amounts to a monthly payment of 3’500 Swiss Francs for Post doctoral study.
  • Exemption of the tuition fees (except for EPFL).
  • Mandatory Swiss Health insurance is paid by the FCS (for non-EU and EFTA grantees only).
  • A lump sum for airfare for non-European grantees only at the end of the scholarship
  • Special 300 Swiss Francs housing allowance
  • 1 year half-fare public transportation card
  • Counseling and various trips, dinners, and sight-seeing tours organized for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship holders.

(Q) Is it possible to submit your application after the deadline?

(A) No.

(Q) Who can apply for this scholarship program?

(A) International students from selected countries.

(Q) Scholarship will be awarded on merit?

(A) Yes.

(Q) Which fields of education does this program offers?

(A) Any field for Ph.D. and post doctoral studies.

(Q) What are the eligibility criteria for this scholarship program?

(A) To be considered as eligible for the scholarship, applicants should possess the following eligibility criteria:

  • Applicant should be from any developing country with a valid passport
  • The applicant must not be more than 35 years old at the moment of the application for a Ph.D. degree
  • Applicant for Ph.D. degree scholarship should be holder of a Master degree from any recognized university while Post Doctoral students should have a Ph.D. degree
  • There should not be a gap of more than five years between the degree receiving time and grant of scholarship
  • The applicant should not be a grantee of any Swiss scholarship before.

(Q) What if an applicant submits only their application form and not the documents?

(A) Their application form will not be considered.

(Q) A person who already is availing any other scholarship, can apply for this scholarship program?

(A) An applicant may apply for other scholarship programs but cannot hold two scholarships at the same time.

(Q) Is there any age limit to apply for a Ph.D. degree?

(A) Must not be more than 35 years old.

(Q) Which countries can participate in this scholarship program?

(A) Following countries can participate in this scholarship program:

Afghanistan

Albania

Algeria

Angola

Antigua and Barbuda

Argentina

Armenia

Australia

Austria

Azerbaijan

Bahamas

Bahrain

Bangladesh

Barbados

Belarus

Belgium

Belize

Benin

Bhutan

Bolivia

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Botswana

Brazil

Brunei Darussalam 

Bulgaria

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Cambodia

Cameroon

Canada

Cap Verde

Central African Republic

Chad

Chile

China

Colombia

Comoros

Cook Islands

Costa Rica

Côte d’Ivoire

Croatia

Cuba 

Cyprus 

Czech Republic 

Democratic Republic of Congo

Denmark 

Djibouti 

Dominica 

Dominican Republic

Ecuador 

Egypt 

El Salvador 

Equatorial Guinea

Eritrea 

Estonia

Ethiopia 

Fiji

Finland 

France 

Gabon 

Gambia

Georgia 

Germany 

Ghana

Greece 

Grenada 

Guatemala

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau 

Guyana 

Haïti 

Honduras

Hungary 

Iceland 

India 

Indonesia 

Iran 

Iraq 

Ireland 

Israel 

Italy 

Jamaica 

Japan 

Jordan

Kazakhstan 

Kenya

Kiribati

Korea, North (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) 

Korea, South (Republic of Korea) 

Kosovo

Kuwait 

Kyrgyzstan 

Laos 

Latvia 

Lebanon 

Lesotho 

Liberia 

Libya

Lithuania

Luxemburg

Madagascar 

Malawi

Malaysia 

Maldives 

Mali

Malta 

Marshall Islands

Mauritania 

Mauritius 

Mexico 

Micronesia 

Moldova 

Mongolia 

Montenegro

Morocco 

Mozambique 

Myanmar

Namibia 

Nauru 

Nepal 

Netherlands

New Zealand 

Nicaragua 

Niger 

Nigeria 

North Macedonia

Norway 

Occupied Palestinian territory 

Oman 

Pakistan 

Palau 

Panama 

Papua New Guinea 

Paraguay 

Peru 

Philippines 

Poland 

Portugal 

Qatar 

Republic of Congo 

Romania 

Russia 

Rwanda 

Salomon Islands 

Samoa 

Santa Lucia 

São Tome and Príncipe

Saudi Arabia

Senegal 

Serbia

Seychelles 

Sierra Leone 

Singapore 

Slovakia 

Slovenia

Somalia 

South Africa 

South Sudan 

Spain 

Sri Lanka

St. Kitts and Nevis 

St-Vincent and the Grenadines 

Sudan

Surinam

Swaziland / eSwatini 

Sweden 

Syria

Taiwan 

Tajikistan 

Tanzania

Thailand 

Timor-Leste 

Togo 

Tonga 

Trinidad and Tobago

Tunisia

Turkey 

Turkmenistan 

Tuvalu 

Uganda

Ukraine 

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 

United States of America 

Uruguay 

Uzbekistan 

Vanuatu

Vatican City State

Venezuela 

Vietnam 

Yemen 

Zambia 

Zimbabwe.

Scholarship information such as due dates, types of scholarship, eligibility criteria, and documents required, etc may vary from country to country. Visit the following site (A-L countries M-Z countries) to get more information about scholarship in your country.

(Q) Who assesses the scholarship applications?

(A) Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS).

(Q) On what basis FCS evaluates the scholarship applications?

(A) The FCS evaluates applications of scholarship according to three criteria:

  • Profile of applicant
  • Quality of the artistic work or research project
  • Potential and synergies for future research cooperation.

(Q) How many types does this scholarship have?

(A) This scholarship program is of two types:

  • The Research Scholarship: This scholarship is offered to those candidates (post graduate researchers in any discipline) who are wishing to pursue research or further studies at doctoral or post doctoral level in Switzerland.
  • The Art Scholarship: This scholarship is offered to those candidates (art students) who are planning to come to Switzerland to pursue an initial master’s degree.

(Q) Who will help the candidate to find an academic supervisor?

(A) No one, they have to do it by themselves.

(Q) Before contacting a professor or supervisor what should a candidate do?

(A) Candidate must make sure that they own all of the qualifications which are required for the intended scientific collaboration and also make sure that the academic supervisor works in their field.

(Q) What is the procedure of application?

(A) In August- release of program

In September- Get a package of application from Swiss representation

From September to December- Application form submission deadline which varies from country to country

At the end of May- Selection by the Federal Commission for Scholarships (FCS)

In next September- The scholarship begins.

(Q) What happens if any information is found to be untrue?

(A) Then the process of your application will be terminated.

(Q) What is the deadline or last date of this scholarship program?

(A) September to December or may vary from country to country.

(Q) How to contact the Swiss Government Scholarship Program?

(A) Contact details:

Ph: +41 58 462 21 29

Email: info@sbfi.admin.ch

(Q) Want to know more about the Swiss Government Scholarship Program?

(A) Visit their official website:

https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/sbfi/en/home/education/scholarships-and-grants/swiss-government-excellence-scholarships.html#557188199

 

By- Syed Pashmina Dolly.